New and Notions

Take a look at our full class list at www.sewwhatquiltshop.com.

The remodel is complete and Sew What? looks wonderful! The new floor plan highlights the hundreds of fabrics we have in stock.  It looks like we have WAY more fabric than we did before, but in reality it’s the same amount, it just looks better!!  The cutting area has been moved to provide and more streamlined look and even our bathroom has had a face lift  If you are a fan on Facebook, then you were able to track our progress and my stress level.  I figured, if I was going through that much stress, I was taking you with me!  (sorry ‘bout that!)  It was an amazing amount of work, and I am grateful for everyone who helped out!  Every bolt of fabric was moved at least 4 times, and now we have reorganized everything again, so stop in soon and see where we have everything stashed now!

It’s almost here – that’s right, the 10^th Annual Western New York Shop Hop!  Hard to believe The WNY Shop Hop has been running strong for 10 years thanks to our loyal customers. The WNY Shop Hop starts on Wednesday June 5, 2013 and continues through Saturday June 8, 2013. Wednesday and Thursday’s hours are 9am – 7pm and Friday and Saturday’s hours are 9am  – 5pm. The Grand Prize this year is the Janome Memory Craft 6600P which is valued at $1999! Who doesn’t want to win one of those? Twenty $50 gift certificates will be also be awarded AND each participating shop will have 20% all fabric on the bolt during the shop hop hours!!  Get your calendars out now, gather your quilting buddies and plan ahead for a great time.

Give Back to the Community

We are very excited about the WNY Shop Hop’s theme this year: “Giving Back.” We are “Giving Back” by making scrap quilts for 5 local charities. The organizations are; WNY Heroes, Safe Journey, Project Linus, Newborns in Need, and Roswell Park Institute. To inspire you to participate and start you off, each shop will give you a 6”x WOF (width of fabric) strip.  If you visit each participating shop, you will receive over a yard and a half of fabric (one 6” piece from each shop) and a simple quilt pattern that potentially could be used to create a quilt to be donated to one of these charities. To reward you for “Giving Back” ( by donating a finished and bound quilt), you will receive a ‘shopping pass’ that will give you a one time, 25% off discount to each of the participating shops. Check out one of Sew What’s? charity quilts below. You have from the day after the Shop Hop until the end of the summer to turn in your charity quilts, but the pass will expire on September 28, 2013, so the earlier you hand in your charity quilt, the more time you have to utilize your shopping pass. To keep you updated, the shop hop has a facebook page. Check the facebook page regularly, and make sure you hit the ‘like ‘ tab, so you will be kept informed.     http://www.facebook.com/WNYShopHop.

With such wonderful support from the community, we are focusing on a charity each month to give back. Safe Journey is one of the charities receiving quilts made by the shops participating in the 10^th Annual Western New York Shop Hop. Safe Journey is a non-residential support organization that helps women with domestic abuse/violence education, individual counseling, resettlement support, teen violence and abuse prevention education, safety planning and more. Safe Journey has been providing these services to over 1,500 women since 1998 and is located in Fairport, New York. Their mission is “to support today’s survivors of domestic violence as they transition to lives free from abuse and to prevent domestic violence in future generations through outreach and education.”

The New York State Row by Row Shop Hop starts on July 1, 2013 and runs through September 2, 2013. This year’s theme is “Fairs and Festivals” and the planning stages are just taking off. This promises to be another exciting statewide event.  The idea behind the Row by Row Shop Hop is to have a great time gathering various patterns throughout NYS this summer (maybe while traveling) from participating shops. After you collect the patterns, you can combine at least eight of the 36” wide patterns to make a quilt. The first quilter to show up at their local quilt shop with a finished, quilted, bound, project will receive a collection of 25 fat quarters.  It’s totally free and there are no passports to slow you down. Last year there were 62 shops participating  each with a unique pattern to offer you.  For more information and to “Like” the NYS Row by Row Shop Hop click on this link; http://www.facebook.com/NYSRowbyRow

Upcoming Shows and Events

Twin City Quilters Guild presents:

“Kaleidoscope of Quilts”

When: Saturday May 4, 2013 and Sunday May 5, 2013 –

Where: Wheatfield Community Center, 2800 Church Road, North Tonawanda, NY, 14120.

Hours: Saturday 9am – 5pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm

Cost: Admission $5.00

Live Quilt Auction 2pm Sunday May 5, 2013.

Hands All Around Erie Quilt Guild presents

“Erie 2013 Quilt Celebration”

When:   Saturday and Sunday, June 1 & 2, 2013

Hours:   Saturday 9am – 4pm & Sunday 12pm – 4pm

Where:  Wayside Presbyterian Church – 1208 Asbury Road, Erie, PA 16505

Cost:     Admission $4 (children under 12 free)

More information: 814-833-7137 or 814-833-0759

The North East Crazy Quilter’s presents

“Vacation Destination”

When:   Saturday and Sunday, June 8 & 9, 2013

Hours:  Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday 12pm – 4pm

Where:  North East Elementary Center – RT 89 and East Division St. North East,               PA 16428

Cost: Admission $4

Appraisals, theme challenge entries, demonstrations, Tea Room, vendors and more!

More information: 814-725-8510 or FLBLE@verizon.net

Fundraiser to Benefit Furever Friends Dog Rescue of WNY, Inc.

When:   Sunday May 5, 2013

Where: Tonawanda Sportsman’s Club 5657 Killian Rd., N. Tonawanda, (Pendleton)    NY, 14120

Hours:    Noon to 5pm

Basket Raffle * 50/50 Drawing * Bake Sale * Cash Bar * Food for purchase

Cost: Admission is free

10th Annual WNY Shop Hop
June 5th – 8th 2013
Wed/Thurs 9 am – 7 pm; Fri/Sat 9 am – 5 pm

Enter to Win:
Grand Prize:

20% off all fabric on the bolt

at each shop, during the shop hop

Two $50 Gift Certificates will be
given away from each store!

Upcoming Classes

We have a few spots remaining in some of our spring classes, so sign up before it’s too late! Don’t miss out on some fun classes this spring. You can see the entire class list at the website, www.sewwhatquiltshop.com.

Ann Shaw is teaching Faceted Jewels, which gives the appearance of circles done using straight seams only! It’s a bit complex and takes a lot of work, this beautiful quilt is going to be everyone’s favorite. There are several ways of getting through the ‘triangle in a square’ units, which will be discussed in class. Join Ann on Tuesdays May 14 & 21, 2013 from 10am to 3pm. The cost is $40.

Intersections with Christine Kryjeski is a great class for quilters who like to see a secondary pattern unfold. Jellyrolls would be ideal for this class because it is strip piecing and is much easier than it looks. Beginners and pros alike will enjoy the dynamic result. This class will be held on Saturday May 11, 2013 from 10am – 3pm. The cost is $40.

Ann Shaw is teaching this awesome new class. Rogue Wave is all about color and triangles – lots and lots of triangles! We will be talking about several different methods for making triangles to make this quilt, but eventually, it is up to the quilter to sew with her favorite technique. You have two choices to take this class, Wednesday May 8, 2013  OR  Friday May 24, 2013 from 10am-3pm. Cost $40.

Quilter of the Month

June D’Angelo is our quilter of the month for May. June began quilting 2 ½ years ago and is continually taking classes to better her skills and knowledge. She likes to follow patterns and rules and has a hard time with the concept that there are no rules and that she can do whatever she wants and the “Quilt Police” will not show up! She tried to remember that “if you can’t see it from a galloping horse, then it is not a problem!” June is starting to feel more comfortable with her color choices and in deciding what designs to enhance her quilts with. She has even ventured to give some suggestions to other quilters.

June lives in Grand Island, N.Y. but has also transported her sewing machine and supplies with her to Ft. Myers Beach, Florida where she and her husband spend a couple of months in the winter at their condo. Her husband, Dan, has a Master’s in Art Education so he makes a great consultant. That being said, June does not always agree with or go with his suggestions.

June’s mother taught her how to sew around the age of 11 years-old. Her mother likes to tell people “yes, I taught her to sew and then she surpassed my knowledge!” After sewing clothing, Halloween costumes, draperies, and home decor items for years she needed a change of pace and moved onto knitting, crocheting and cross-stitch. By the time her children were all off to college she again needed a change of pace and went back to her first love, sewing. She took an adult education class in quilting and found herself hooked.

June has enjoyed entering her “projects” in both the New York State Fair and Erie County Fair. She joined the River Lea Quilt Guild on Grand Island this past fall and entered their “Quilts by the River” quilt show the very next month. Her quilt “Harvest” proved to be a winner. While she was awed by the awards her quilt received she felt that all of the quilts at the show were beautiful. She finds it easy to see how much time, hard work and love goes into making each and every quilt; they are all winners. June continues to be inspired by al the stunning quilts that she sees and quilts on a daily basis.

As quilter of the Month, the entire quilting community and anyone who comes into the store and will have the opportunity to view your talents and see the vast array of different styles, colors, and techniques there are in our area. While your quilts are on display, photos are taken and a CD created to maintain a record of your exhibition. Also during the month of your exhibition, you will receive a 20% discount in the store. Any quilter at any level can participate. We love seeing other people’s work styles, and don’t worry if they are not quilted! In fact, “tops” are easier for us to hang up!! Call the store at 632-8801 or go to www.sewwhatquiltshop.com to sign up for a future month.

 Girl’s Night Out

May 31, 2013 is Girl’s Night Out! We start around 5pm or 6pm (however, it works into your schedule, its casual) and go until around 9pm. The cost is $8. Bring your UFO’s, orphans, and any other quilting projects you are working on and we’ll have a great night out! All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you on May 31, 2013.

Individual and Group Lessons Available

Need guidance with a quilting project?

Stuck in a rut and can’t move forward?

Call or stop by to make an appointment!

It costs $15.00/ hour for one or two quilters; $10.00/ hour for three or more quilters.

Thursday Morning Free Sew!

Did you know we offer a free sew every Thursday morning?

Bring in your projects and hang out with us for a bit!

Free advice, sewing tips, and great companionship!

10-2pm every Thursday

If you have an event you’d like us to share with our newsletter subscribers, we would be happy to do so. Just let us know!

News and Notions

Thanks to our wonderful customers, we had another successful Fat Quarter Tuesday!  We always have so much fun on that day!  It’s so good to see all of you, and have an opportunity to share some terrific deals!  Now that FQT is over, we are looking forward to what’s next: the spring schedule.  We are very excited about our lineup of classes and have lots of wonderful patterns for you to try.  I love the “Waiting for Spring” wall hanging, it’s hard to find a fast, easy, spring-related project. Take a look at our full class list at www.sewwhatquiltshop.com .

We have been getting a ton of new fabrics in.  I jokingly told Mr. UPS to STOP bringing us stuff because we were getting so overwhelmed with new fabrics. There is an excellent new black and gold collection that is so elegant, I think it would make a great purse, or I was thinking of making a table runner and placemats out of it. We have also gotten in lots and lots of new batiks and some really beautiful florals too.  Come in and check them out!

Sew What has some exciting news!  We are going to get a new rug!  We’re looking forward to updating our look, but you can imagine the logistics of such a renovation so unfortunately, Sew What will have to be closed on April 4 – 6.  The good news for you  is this:  We just got all that new fabric in that I was telling you about above, and …ummm…we really don’t want to move it all around to get the rug torn up.  So, as a result, ALL the bolted fabric will be ON SALE  for 20% OFF  from March 18-30.  It will help us lighten our load and it will help you all save some money on some really wonderful NEW fabrics. A win-win situation!!!

We are gearing up for show season and Shop Hop season too.  The WNY Shop Hop now has a facebook page, so make sure you ‘like’ us to get updates on what we have planned.  This year, our theme is “Giving Back” and we are doing a charity quilt drive to benefit 5 local charities.  We are very excited about it.  More information is to follow, as the time gets nearer, and make sure you ‘like’ us on Facebook!  Our first quilt show is Clarence, in April  see details below.  We hope to see you at some of the upcoming events!!!

Upcoming Events and Shows

Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo presents

“Her Story…Charlotte Mulligan and the Women Who Made Buffalo History”

An outstanding panel, moderated by NPR award winning journalist Eileen Buckley, will consist of Forest Lawn Cemetery Interpretive Program   Director Sandy Starks, TCC historian Judy Johannsen, former Erie County Legislator Joan Bozer. They will share insights and history of Charlotte Mulligan and the important role women played in the history of Buffalo.

WHEN:        Wednesday March 6, 2013 from 6 pm to 8 pm

WHERE:    The Buffalo History Museum in conjunction with the current Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo Community Room Exhibit and                              Women’s History Month in the lecture hall of The Buffalo History Museum.

COST:          Free for Buffalo History Museum and Twentieth Century Club members and $8 for non-members

 Impact Artists Gallery presents

FibreArts Initiative IV

WHEN:      March 6 – 30, 2013

WHERE:    Tri-Main Bldg. Suite 545 – 2495 Main St., Buffalo NY 14214

MORE INFORMATION:  982-5947

Opening Reception: Thursday March 14, 2012 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Gallery exhibition hours: Wednesday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Shibori Dyeing Workshop (on wine bottle or PVC pipe)

WHEN:   Sunday March 17, 2013 – 12:00p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Main Bldg. Suite 545 – 2495 Main St., Buffalo NY 14214

COST:    $36 plus $8 cash for 6 dye buckets. Participants will get supply list.

MORE INFORMATION: 982-5974

Great Lakes Seaway Trail presents

“Beauty of the Byways” Quilt Show

WHEN:   Saturday and Sunday March 16 & 17, 2013 and Saturday and Sunday March 23 & 24, 2013.

WHERE: Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center, 401 W. Main St., Sackets Harbor, NY  13685

MORE INFORMATION: 315-646-1000 x203 or email:  lynette@seawaytrail.com

The Clarence Log Cabin Quilters presents

“Cabin Fever 10” Quilt Show

When:   Friday, Saturday and Sunday April 19, 20, & 21, 2013.

Where: Clarence Town Park Clubhouse – 10405 Main Street, Clarence NY 14031

Hours:   Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost: $5

For more information: 759-6683

Give Back to the Community

Do you know about Project Linus? Project Linus is a national organization whose mission is to give new handmade quilts, blankets, gifts, and afghans to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need of love, comfort and/or, warmth and a sense of security. The second portion of their mission is to provide a rewarding a fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.  The Erie/Niagara chapter’s contact is Christine and she can be reached at 716-627-3883 or log onto Project Linus for more information; http://www.projectlinus.org/

St. Patrick’s Day is one day when everyone is Irish! We just got in some cute fabrics to celebrate the day – they are ideal for making last minute projects to celebrate the Irish in you! We don’t usually get St. Patrick’s Day fabric in but this was just too cute to resist!!

Upcoming Classes

We have a really wonderful line up for the Winter/Spring Classes! Many of the classes are brand new and are very appealing. Check out the entire class list at the website, www.sewwhatquiltshop.com.  Be sure to sign up soon as they are filling up quickly.

Christine’s Mariners Compass is absolutely fabulous! The model is on the wall and Christine has made three blocks using different fabrics. This way you are able to see how it may look using diverse fabrics. This class is suggested for intermediate quilters with some paper piecing experience. This two session class is being offered two different times for your convenience : Wednesdays March 6 & 20, 2013 from 6pm-9pm OR Fridays April 26 and May 3, 2013 from 10am-1pm. Cost is $40. Click here for more info and to register.

Ribbon Weave is a new class taught by Linda Davis. It’s from a Bethany Reynolds book and very beginners friendly. Bethany says “the traditional Rail Fence block gets a new look with the Stack-n-Whack technique.” Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it? Linda’s class in on Friday March 15, 2013 from 10am-3pm and costs $40.  Click here for more information and to register.

Linda Davis is also teaching an old favorite! One Block Wonder on Saturday March 23, 2013 from 10am – 3pm. This quilt is basically a traditional “Stack and Whack”, but you only use one fabric and one shape to create the artistic quilt of your dreams. Cost $40. Click here for more information and to register.

Have you been eager to learn how to quilt on your home sewing machine? Then this is the class for you. Ann walks you through the “how’s” of machine quilting, you’ll get some important tips and time to practice. Machine Quilting for Beginners is on Saturday May 4, 2013 from 10am- 4pm. Kit and class cost $65. Click here for more information and to register. 

Quilter of the Month

Terry Fornes is our Quilter of the Month for March. Terry started quilting in 1999 when she took Ann’s “Hand Quilting for Beginners” class at Sew What? She has made some truly remarkable quilts, loving the companionship, camaraderie and the act of quilting. Sadly, a shoulder problem has limited her ability to continue quilting, which she misses dearly.  Some of the quilts she has made were gifts to family members or friends, but many of them she just made for the fun of making them.

Terry enjoyed every aspect of the art of quilting: machine piecing, cutting the fabric, and appliqué. The patterns and colors she chose were inspired by what was happening in her life and her “current artist phase”. The only part of quilting she didn’t enjoy was selecting the fabrics, “That is the hardest part!” she says. Terry doesn’t have one favorite quilt, because each of her quilts are special to her. In fact, “Hugs and Kisses” is a quilt she made for her parents that has a special story. A few years after her parents passed away, Terry’s uncle died and her aunt was having a difficult time. Terry sent the quilt to her in hopes it would help her thought a very dark period. Her aunt found comfort in it, and passed it along to a cousin who had breast cancer. It has since become a tradition in her family to send the quilt to family members (it must stay in the family) who are having a rough time so they can be wrapped in “Hugs and Kisses.” So far, eight family members have been able to be snuggled by this quilt.

Terry is now focusing on FibreArts. She is very creative and needs an outlet for her artistic vision.  In the past she has made beautiful jewelry in glass, so I can’t wait to see what is in store for us next.

As Quilter of the Month, the entire quilting community and anyone who comes into the store and will have the opportunity to view your talents and see the vast array of different styles, colors, and techniques there are in our area. While your quilts are on display, photos are taken and a CD created to maintain a record of your exhibition. Also during the month of your exhibition, you will receive a 20% discount in the store. Any quilter at any level can participate. We love seeing other people’s work styles, and don’t worry if they are not quilted! In fact, “tops” are easier for us to hang up!! Call the store at 632-8801 or go to www.sewwhatquiltshop.com to sign up for a future month.

Quilter’s Tip

I don’t know about you, but loose threads tend to be a problem when I quilt. I tend to toss them around and say to myself “I’ll pick them up later.” Unfortunately, later never seems to arrive! I’ve come across a few simple tips that should help me take care of this problem, and I’d like to share them with you.

Get a damp washcloth or rag and put in on a plate. You can place the plate on your sewing table, the floor, or anywhere your loose threads seem to end up. When you trim the threads, touch the plate, and the threads will stick to the cloth! It makes it easy to remove the threads later; they are stuck to the rag, rather than stuck to you, the dog, or the carpet! Or how about this – use a small piece of batting placed on the floor (or anywhere your threads end up) and they will stick to it. I have even pinned a small piece of batting to my shirt, and used it as a ‘catcher’ there. You know how much thread loves to stick on batting. Good luck with these tips and Happy Quilting!

Girl’s Night Out

March 29, 2013 is Girl’s Night Out! We start around 5pm or 6pm (however, it works into your schedule, its casual) and go until around 9pm. The cost is $8. Bring your UFO’s, orphans, and any other quilting projects you are working on and we’ll have a great night out! All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you on March 29, 2013.

Individual and Group Lessons Available

Need guidance with a quilting project?

Stuck in a rut and can’t move forward?

Call or stop by to make an appointment!

It costs $15.00/ hour for one or two quilters; $10.00/ hour for three or more quilters.

Thursday Morning Free Sew!

Did you know we offer a free sew every Thursday morning?

Bring in your projects and hang out with us for a bit!

Free advice, sewing tips, and great companionship!

10-2pm every Thursday

If you have an event you’d like us to share with our newsletter subscribers, we would be happy to do so. Just let us know!

Sew What? News and Notions

It’s time once again for Sew What’s FAT QUARTER TUESDAY SALE! This year the big event is on February 12, 2013. New fabrics (that are absolutely stunning) come into the shop on a daily basis, then are then expertly cut and folded in preparation for the big day. They are sorted and stacked just waiting for you to bring them home. FAT QUARTER TUESDAY, starts at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday February 12, 2013. The doors open an hour earlier and we were open a few hours later, until 7:00 p.m., so you’ll be able make your schedule that day center around the FAT QUARTER SALE. This year the price of FAT QUARTERS which are regularly priced at $3.00, will be $1.75, that’s right almost half off! This is the last year at that fabulous price, so make sure you take advantage of this huge savings! Grab your calendar now and arrange your day around FAT QUARTER TUESDAY so you can come in and join the fun!!

It seems every time I turn around the UPS driver is pulling up with another box of fabrics! We opened up one box and found the cutest monkey growth chart and accompanying fabrics I just have to share with you! I mean really, how cute are they?

Upcoming Show and Events

“Cabin Fever 10” presented by the Clarence Log Cabin Quilters

When:   Friday, Saturday and Sunday April 19, 20, & 21, 2013.
Where: Clarence Town Park Clubhouse – 10405 Main Street, Clarence NY 14031
Hours:   Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Give Back to the Community

EQuilter.com is still participating in the relief effort for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. The destruction it left is almost incomprehensible. The stories that continue to develop are just heartbreaking and the victims need all the help and support they can get. eQuilter is working with Mission of Love and Timeless Treasures to make 5000 quilts for a relief effort for those that have been hardest hit. For all the information and exact instructions, go to http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/quiltrelief.html

Winter Classes

Waiting for Spring
Teacher:  Christine Kryjeski
When:  Saturday February 16^th
Time:      10:00 AM  – 3:00 PM

Usually, by about February or March, we need a lift from our winter doldrums.  I’ve searched high and low to find a happy spring project that will reflect that need. This table runner fits the bill with a wonderful view of a tree just beginning to show its springtime leaves, and a bird building a nest.  This 13″x37″ project it easily accomplished with fusible appliqué and pretty pastel colored fabrics.  Beginner’s welcome!

Basic Machine Piecing 
Teacher:  Ann Shaw 
When:  Tuesdays, February 26 – April 9
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Cost:  $65.00

This basic class covers the rotary equipment, strip piecing, and time saving techniques.  Each week of this 6 week class covers a different essential technique.  We cover rotary cutting safety and accuracy, half square triangles, flying geese, paper piecing and much more.

Quilter of the Month

Diana Brock and Paula Foeder are our Quilters of the Month for February. They became “quilting friends” during the construction of their patio homes, which happen to be right next door to each other. As they continued to chat about quilting, and the various projects they made, they discovered they had made the same wall hanging, using the SAME fabric. But here’s the catch- Paula lived in New Jersey and Diana was in Buffalo! That seemed to seal their friendship and they’ve been quilting together ever since. They “consult” each other on projects, even though their styles are very different and frequently “shop” in each other’s stash. Lynn, Diana’s husband, has often said there is so much going back and forth they need a tunnel built between the two houses, especially in the winter. They just collaborated on a baby quilt for a neighbor and had a ball doing it. They each contributed fabric, pieced half of the quilt, and did part of the quilting, which involved many trips through the back yard.

Quilting for over 35 years, Diana learned how to quilt in high school with her mother’s help. She didn’t get serious about it until the mid ‘70’s, when she was able to put a few stitches on the Amherst Guild’s Bicentennial Quilt in 1976. Diana took a class from Alice Bachraty, who set her on the straight and narrow of quilting.

Diana is always on the lookout to try something new, and is inspired by new techniques and gorgeous fabrics. An avid fan of paper piecing, she does so whenever possible and as far as hand quilting goes – and I quote “not even at gun point.”
A valued member of the staff at Sew What? from 2001-2010 and much sought after teacher, Diana retired in 2010 to spend more time with her husband Lynn, grandchildren and quilt. She is a member of the Amherst Quilt Guild and learns something new from each project, which never gets boring. Although Diana doesn’t make large bed quilts anymore, she continues to make miniatures (that are fabulous) and wall hangings. Her current projects include quilts for one grandchild and seven great-grandchildren, all started in advance seeing as they range in age from 7-years-old to 16-years-old. With two sets of twins, that’s a lot of work – number five out of eight was just completed.

Paula Foeder made her first photo quilt in 2000. She completed it on her own not having a clue about quilting – and it came out okay – she still has it today. After that, Paula decided she should learn proper quilting techniques and took a hand piecing and hand quilting class in New Jersey where she lived at the time. She is not a fan of hand quilting, preferring machine piecing and machine quilting and her favorite technique is the one she is working on in her current project! Paula leans toward contemporary quilting now, though she started with traditional quilting. As a member of the Amherst Quilt Guild, Paula finds inspiration in the “Show and Share” portion of the guild meetings, as well as color, magazines and quilt shows.

Quilter’s Tip

We’ve found a great new use the Glad Wrap Press ‘n Seal product. When you want to machine quilt a specific design or pattern on your quilt top, use the new Glad Wrap Press ‘n Seal and trace your design on it, then quilt right through it.  After quilting, the wrap is removed at the stitch lines. Just gently tear it away!  Using the Press ‘n Seal also saves you time because the wrap is clear, so you’re able to see exactly where you want your design to be placed and you don’t have to pin it to the quilt.  The wrap sticks wonderfully to fabric and, more importantly, lifts without any residue.  You can also use this product to ‘preview’ designs you aren’t sure about.  Draw the quilting design on the Press ‘n Seal, lay it on the spot in question, and it will allow you to see what the quilting will look like in that spot.  If you don’t like it, you can abandon it or adjust it accordingly.

Girl’s Night Out

February 22, 2013 is Girl’s Night Out! For the first December in years, we aren’t running into a holiday this year!  We start around 5pm or 6pm (however, it works into your schedule, its casual) and go until around 9pm. The cost is $8. Bring your UFO’s, orphans, and any other quilting projects you are working on and we’ll have a great night out! All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you on February 22, 2013.

Individual and Group Lessons Available

Need guidance with a quilting project?

Stuck in a rut and can’t move forward?

Call or stop by to make an appointment!

It costs $15.00/ hour for one or two quilters; $10.00/ hour for three or more quilters.

Thursday Morning Free Sew!

Did you know we offer a free sew every Thursday morning?

Bring in your projects and hang out with us for a bit!

Free advice, sewing tips, and great companionship!

10-2pm every Thursday

If you have an event you’d like us to share with our newsletter subscribers, we would be happy to do so. Just let us know!

Sew What’s New

Now that the holiday season is over and we made it through “Doomsday 12-21-12” let’s move on to celebrating 2013!  I’m excited about this year because of all many things we have to offer you. We have new, never before taught classes at Sew What? and FAT QUARTER TUESDAY will be on February 12, 2013. We have been getting in some wonderful and appealing new fabrics for several months now, and  some of them are so appealing they will insist they go home with you!

We are busily preparing for FAT QUARTER TUESDAY, a fun, exciting day taking place on Tuesday February 12, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. We will be open extra hours so you can shop early or late. This year our FAT QUARTERS which are regularly priced at$3.00, will be $1.75, that’s right almost half off! This will be the last year at that fabulous price, so make sure you take advantage of the savings!  Grab your calendar now and arrange your day around FAT QUARTER TUESDAY so you can come in and join the fun!

Give Back to the Community

EQuilter.com is still participating in the relief effort for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. The destruction it left is almost incomprehensible. The stories that continue to develop are just heartbreaking and the victims need all the help and support they can get. eQuilter is working with Mission of Love and Timeless Treasures to make 5000 quilts for a relief effort for those that have been hardest hit. For all the information and exact instructions, go to http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/quiltrelief.html

The Million Dollar Pillowcase Challenge is still going strong. To date there have been 451,492 pillowcases donated, almost half way there! Bring yours into the shop and we’ll make sure it is donated to a local charity. While it’s lot of fun to make pillowcases for kids out of juvenile or themed fabrics, don’t forget about adults.  Some of the charities ton which we donate love to receive pillowcases for senior or veterans too. If you check out the website www.allpeoplequilt.com, you can view pictured instructions on how to make that confusing French Seam Pillowcase that has finished seams.  That website has it explained the best.

Winter Classes

Our winter class schedule is almost done and looks to have a little something for everyone – wait until you see the new classes we have in store for you. Not to worry, we are repeating some of the requested old favorites. As we start the New Year, we’d love some input from you as we try to customize our class list to meet the needs of all our quilter’s needs, beginners, and intermediates alike. If there is a special pattern or technique you are interested in learning, please let us know! We may be able to design a class around your own personal needs!  As a teaser, some of the classes are listed below.

A gorgeous paper pieced Mariners Compass will make you drool. Intermediate students familiar with paper piecing will enjoy this one!

As winter drags on, we may need to brighten our outlook with a new class, the Spring Wall Hanging, offered on two different sessions; Saturday February 16 OR Monday March 11, 2013 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Linda Fike will be teaching the popular Double Wedding Ring in two classes April 24 and May 1, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Quiltsmart method is the best way to achieve this favorite. It’s a bit of work, but worth the effort!

Linda Davis is back teaching One Block Wonder on Saturday March 23, 2013 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. It’s so much fun to play with color in this one fabric quilt.

Linda Davis is teaching a brand new class at Sew What? called  Ribbon Weave by Bethany S. Reynolds. This beginner friendly “Rail Fence gets a new look with the Stack-n-Whack technique. Framing the main fabric with two different accent fabrics creates an interwoven effect. For all the design drama, this is still a very simple quilt to piece,” Reynolds writes in her book. Join Linda on Friday March 15, 2013 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Quilter of the Month

Ellie Parisi is our featured quilter during the month of January 2013. Ellie learned to sew in junior high school and continued to sew clothing for twenty years. She exhibited her fashion at the Erie County Fair and progressed to couture styles. Sewing took a back seat however, when her daughter was born in 1980. For nearly 30 years, Ellie was busy raising her daughter and  working as a Junior High School History teacher, and forgot her love for sewing.

Two years ago, her neighbor, Margaret, who was Sew What’s November Quilter of the Month,  introduced Ellie to quilting.   Her love for sewing was reignited. She began pursuing quilting with abandon, completing numerous projects in short order. Ellie loves taking classes, and learns at least one new tip each time she takes a class.  Finding herself a bit inpatient, she is always looking for “time saving” methods and techniques. She enjoys the creative, artistic process of making the One Block Wonder quilt, which is now her favorite. Sew What? is offering One Block Wonder in the winter schedule, and Ellie thinks you should all take that class. “The color-play is so much fun”, she says, “you’ll love it!”  She is currently working on a Blooming Nine Patch and struggling with Road to the Mountain due to the exact nature of this quilt. Making all those seams meet takes such a long time!  Ellie still considers herself a beginner because she hasn’t been quilting a very long time; but Ann feels otherwise and insists she is an intermediate, bordering on advanced quilter, due to the prolific nature of her time and the difficulty of the projects she has completed. Each quilt has something to teach! Ellie is a member of the ‘Thursday Morning Girls’; she loves the social nature of group sewing.

Ellie also spend a lot of her time volunteering at her church, and is a devoted grandmother to 5-year-old Ella, who encourages her grandmother new obsession by picking out which quilt she wants next!

As Quilter of the Month, the entire quilting community and everyone who comes into the store and will have an opportunity to view your talents and see the vast array of different styles, colors, and techniques there are in our area. While your quilts are on display, photos are taken and a CD created to maintain a record of your exhibition. Also during the month of your exhibition, you will receive a 20% discount in the store. Any quilter at any level can participate. We love seeing other people’s work styles, and don’t worry if they are not quilted! In fact, “tops” are easier for us to hang up!! Call the store at 632-8801 or go to www.sewwhatquiltshop.com to sign up for a future month.

Quilter’s Tip

I find it amazing how often we have to clean out of our bobbin cases!  Sometimes it seems like there is a lot of lint buildup even is the time it takes to use a single bobbin!  Lint is the collection of cotton fibers that come from thread, fabric and batting. If there is a lot of thread-related lint when you sew, there could be one of three reasons for it.

1. Using medium or low quality thread. Most of the thread we purchase is indeed low or medium quality because manufacturers feel it’s not cost effective to produce a high quality thread and aim for the larger, lower-price, lower quality thread market. Even if a thread label says it is ‘long staple cotton’ (high quality thread with fibers 1 1/8” long to 2 ½” long) it may not necessarily be true. This is because there are certain steps that need to be followed during processing to produce a high quality thread.
2. If you find a lot of lint buildup around the needle, the needle may be the incorrect style or size. A topstitch needle has a double-size eye with a larger area to pass the thread through which results in less stress on the needle. Topstitch needles are often used for quilting, piecing, embroidering, and most all sewing projects. An exception is when sewing on knit fabric; a ballpoint needle is the preferred choice. Pick your needle based on the size of the thread.
3. When you have excess lint build up in the bobbin or tension area, it may be due to the tension being too tight and it’s stressing or rubbing the thread. This can be easily fixed by loosening the top and/or bobbin tensions. Once you learn how to adjust the tensions on your machine, you’ll feel very liberated. The sewing is now in your control. Finding the correct balance of the tension adjustment comes, mostly, from trial and error.  Adjust only a bit at a time and examine the results carefully!

Girl’s Night Out

January 25, 2013 is Girl’s Night Out! For the first December in years, we aren’t running into a holiday this year!  We start around 5pm or 6pm (however, it works into your schedule, its casual) and go until around 9pm. The cost is $8. Bring your UFO’s, orphans, and any other quilting projects you are working on and we’ll have a great night out! All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you on January 25, 2013.

Individual and Group Lessons Available

Need guidance with a quilting project?

Stuck in a rut and can’t move forward?

Call or stop by to make an appointment!

It costs $15.00/ hour for one or two quilters; $10.00/ hour for three or more quilters.

Thursday Morning Free Sew!

Did you know we offer a free sew every Thursday morning?

Bring in your projects and hang out with us for a bit!

Free advice, sewing tips, and great companionship!

10-2pm every Thursday

If you have an event you’d like us to share with our newsletter subscribers, we would be happy to do so. Just let us know!

Sew What? News

It has been a beautiful fall so far, but going by much too quickly. We have been busy with the shop hops and hope you enjoyed them as much as we did. Participating in shop hops are a great way to meet up with old friends and connect with new ones. It’s such fun when people from slightly out of the area come into our shop for the first time. Since each shop hop has its own unique twist, it’s great to get people’s reactions.

Fall seems to be moving at warp speed, and you can feel the colder air moving into the area. Most of the yard work has been completed for the season, so we can now put our energies into fun, warm things like quilting. To help you get into the fall swing of things, we are offering ALL our fall and thanksgiving fabric and panels at 15% off the week before thanksgiving. That’s right! Come into Sew What? Quilt Shop from November 12-17, 2012 to pick up some wonderful fabric at a discounted price!

Fabric and Notions

The holidays are right around the corner, have you given any thought to your gift giving needs yet? There are many appropriate goodies for your sewing circle, girlfriends, or even yourself! We all know how much quilters love fabric, so a gift certificate is always a welcome gift, but quilters really like notions too.  New to the shop is an amazing tool called the Seam-fix shown below. This tool is not only a seam ripper, but helps grab and remove excess threads from your projects without damage or leaving a mess behind – absolutely amazing. The new Kim Diehl book you’ve all been waiting for just came in. Take a look:

The charms and pins we just got in stock are wonderful. They can dress up your cloths, your bags and more. And what about the hand beaded scissors fob’s that Cheryl Kagen makes? Don’t you just have to have one?  (a great gift idea for your sewing circle buddies…)

Here is just a small sample of the selection:

We have some fun NEW holiday fabric from Dr. Seuss, stop in and get some while it lasts.

Fall Classes

Our classes are at full speed and running smoothly. We still have some room in the Blooming 9 Patch class, and we would love for you join us. The date is Friday December 7, 2012. (New date!) We even have some kits already put together for your convenience. The kits are done in a black and white color scheme, like the model. If you have a different color scheme in mind, let us know and we will make a custom-made kit, just for you!

Quilter of the Month

Margaret Drury is our Quilter of the Month for November 2012. Margaret began quilting in 1970 making a wall hanging and didn’t pick it up again until 1990. She was in Melbourne, Australia where her husband Colin was on a six-month sabbatical. Meeting a neighbor – Lois Pratt – an avid quilter and quilt guild member, Margaret was thrilled to learn they both loved quilting.  She didn’t have access to a sewing machine, but Lois was kind enough to let Margaret borrow hers and she was quilting again. Once they left Melbourne, Margaret didn’t quilt for six years until she found herself “down under” again with her husband on yet another sabbatical. Margaret and Lois reconnected and began their quilting fun where they left off. In fact, they went to a ‘quilt farm’ (similar to our retreats) making beautiful quilts and memories.

Margaret wandered into Sew What a long time ago, taking a few classes and becoming a regular member of the Thursday Morning Group.  Her enthusiasm has brought many of her friends into the fold.  Margaret prefers to work on just one quilt at a time, putting all her efforts in it. She doesn’t buy for future projects, she’s very disciplined and gets every one of them FINISHED! Her favorite part of quilting is seeing how the colors blend while creating a quilt and is inspired by more modern colors and patterns. Margaret hasn’t worked with Batik fabric yet, which may be her next venture. She loves to machine piece because it’s efficient and usually makes larger double and/or queen size quilts staying away from piecing anything that is too tiny. Margaret finds paper piecing enjoyable but does not have any desire to do hand quilting – it just isn’t fast enough. Some of her favorite quilts are in the homes of her children in Colorado and in England with her twin sister, Mary. Margaret made matching “twins” quilts last year, using the same fabric in both quilts, and incorporating photos of the two twins and their families throughout their lives.  Mary happens to be displaying her ‘twins’ quilt this month too. Margaret loves sewing in the afternoons at the Bay window where she can see what is going on in the neighborhood and lighting is good. Margaret is lucky to sew at a beautiful table Colin built for her.

As Quilter of the Month, the entire quilting community and everyone who comes into the store and will have an opportunity to view your talents and see the vast array of different styles, colors, and techniques there are in our area. While your quilts are on display, photos are taken and a CD created to maintain a record of your exhibition. Also during the month of your exhibition, you will receive a 20% discount in the store. Any quilter at any level can participate. We love seeing other people’s work styles, and don’t worry if they are not quilted! In fact, “tops” are easier for us to hang up!! Call the store at 632-8801 or go to www.sewwhatquiltshop.com to sign up for a future month.

Girl’s Night Out

November 30, 2012 is Girl’s Night Out! We start around 5pm or 6pm (however, it works into your schedule, its casual) and go until around 9pm. The cost is $8. Bring your UFO’s, orphans, and any other quilting projects you are working on and we’ll have a great night out! All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you on November 30, 2012.

Individual and Group Lessons Available

Need guidance with a quilting project?

Stuck in a rut and can’t move forward?

Call or stop by to make an appointment!

It costs $15.00/ hour for one or two quilters; $10.00/ hour for three or more quilters.

Thursday Morning Free Sew!

Did you know we offer a free sew every Thursday morning?

Bring in your projects and hang out with us for a bit!

Free advice, sewing tips, and great companionship!

10-2pm every Thursday

If you have an event you’d like us to share with our newsletter subscribers, we would be happy to do so. Just let us know!

Visit us at www.sewwhatquiltshop.com or Email us at Sewwhat@sewwhatquiltshop.com

New fall hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday 10 am – 5 pm; Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 am – 7 pm; Saturday 10 am – 3pm.

Sew What? News and Notions

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the 6th Annual Quilter’s Quest Shop Hop! Everyone seemed to have a good time and the famed Grand Prize, a fabulous weekend quilting retreat for four at The Brick House (valued at $900.00) went to Judy Niemera of East Amherst, who is a new quilter and is hoping to bring her beginner’s class with her. Our own Ellie Parisi won the 24 yards of fabric!! Congratulations to all who participated.

The $ 50.00 gift certificate winners from each shop were:

• Aunties Attic  -              Carolyn Nazzarett of West Seneca
• Heartland Quilt Shop  -  Karen McNight of Blasdell
• Marie’s Sewing Center – Kathy Recchione of Niagara Falls
• Pine Grove Quilt Shop – Sharon Sacco of Niagara Falls
• Quiltmaker and Friends  - Sharie Romesburg of Blasdell
• Sew What? Quilt Shop –  Carol Groh of Cheektowaga
• Threads of Time –       Elaine Bruckman of Buffalo                                 

ShoptoberFest 2012 is in just a few short days and promises to be loads of fun. It’s a “new twist on an old favorite” and starts on Wednesday October 10, 2012 and runs through Saturday October 13, 2012. The hours on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are         10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s a bit different so here’s how it works: You only need to go to 9 of the 11 shops to be entered to win any awards –the first place is a $50.00 gift certificate from each shop and second place prize of a $25.00 quilt kit from each of the 11 shops. (That’s 22 prizes right there!) However, you must go to the”Mystery Shop” (to be announced at the wrap up meeting) in order to be entered to win the fabulous Grand Prize of a Janome 6600p valued at $2500.00! In addition, if you go to all 11 shops, you can participate in the “Word Jumble”, and can be eligible to win a $250.00 gas card and at $4.00 a gallon who wouldn’t want that! The shops participating are:

• Aunties Attic * 2043 Military Rd. Niagara Falls, NY 14304 * 716-297-3636 * www.auntiesatticquiltshop.com
• Chestnut Bay Quilting * 262 North St. Caledonia, NY 14423 * 585-538-4420 * http://www.chestnutbayquilting.com
• Country Treasures * 61 Main St. Brockport, NY 14420 * 585-637-5148 * http://countrytreasuresquiltshop.com/ctqs2011
• Creekside Fabrics, Quilts and Yarns *237 Main St. Arcade, NY 14009* 585-492-4226 * http://www.creeksidefabrics.com
• Heartland Quilt Shop* 6817 Ridge Rd. Lockport, NY 14094 * 716-433-3188 * www.heartlandquiltshoponline.com
• Marie’s Sewing Center * 6310 Robinson Rd. Lockport, NY 14094 * 716-434-2583 * www.mariessewingcenter.com
• Mt. Pleasant Quilting * 2877 Mt. Pleasant Rd. York (But for GPS use Piffard), NY 14592 * 585-243-0767 * http://www.mtpleasantquiltingcompany.com/index.php/site
• Patchwork Garden * 6281 Transit Rd. East Amherst, NY 14051 * 716-810-9088 * http://www.patchworkgardenquilting.com/
• The Quilter’s Daughter * 2817 State Route 246 (Perry Center Rd) NY 14530 * 585-770-4926
• The Scarlet Thread * 85 Donovan St. Webster, NY 14580 *585-265-4910 * http://www.scarletthreadquilts.com/
• Sew What? Quilt Shop * 6816 Main St. Williamsville, NY 14221 * 716-632-8801 * www.sewwhatquiltshop.com

Fabric and Notions

For an easy, fun, and quick project why not stop into Sew What? And pick up one of our new holiday panels? We have Halloween, Thanksgiving and yes, Christmas panels that are simply gorgeous and will make your holiday home look beautiful.

Fall Classes

Ann will be teaching the seven-week course, Basics by Machine class during the day this semester starting on Tuesday October 2, 2012 and going through Tuesday November 13, 2012.  click for more info

Machine Quilting taught by Ann will be held on Friday October 19, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  click for more info

English Paper Piecing with Christine will be help on two consecutive Mondays, October 22 & 29, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. click for more info

Upcoming Events

Do you have an event you would like us to share with our newsletter subscribers? We would love to help you promote your event, just let us know!

The Morningstar Quilt Guild Show

Harvest of Quilts 7

Friday October 5, 2012 – 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 6, 2012 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
374 Main Street
St. Matthias Church
East Aurora, NY 14052

Presented by River Lea Quilters’ Guild

Quilts by the River 2012 Quilt Show

Saturday and Sunday October 13 & 14, 2012 *    Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn in Grand Island
100 Whitehaven Rd
Grand Island, NY 14072
Admission $5.00
Proceeds from the show will be donated to Mended Hearts and The Matthew Foster Foundation
For more information, contact Susan Miles at 716-773-4304

The Irondequoit Quilt Club presents

Gems of Fall

Friday October 19, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday October 20, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection
3736 St. Paul Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14617 (corner of Cooper Rd, off Titus)
Donation will be $5.00
http:/irondequoitquiltclub.org

The Museum Quilt Guild of Batavia presents 

Stitches in Time Quilt Show 2012

Friday October 19, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday October 20, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The new location is:
Alexander Fireman’s Recreation Hall
10708 Alexander Rd (Rte. 98)
Alexander, NY 14005
For more information, contact Mary Lu at 585-343-9084
http://museumquiltguild.blogspot.com

Crittenden Quilters Presents

Hand Made in America Quilt Show and Chinese Auction

Friday and Saturday October 26 & 27, 2012
*    Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Crittenden Presbyterian Church
3320 Crittenden Road
Crittenden, NY 14038
Admission $4.00
For more information, contact Judy Geyer 716-542-1861

Quilter of the Month

Tara Heitzenrater is the Quilter of the Month for October. Tara, president and owner of Heartland Quilt Shop began quilting 16 years ago. Her friend Linda Fitch taught her how to quilt and her first project was a quilt for her daughter’s first birthday. She quilted happily for many years at home, and then started working at the old Pine Grove Quilt Shop with Judy in Lockport. When Judy retired, Tara opened her own small shop. After a few years, she realized her business needed more room. Luckily, her carpenter husband built her a bigger, brand new space last year and the new Heartland Quilt Shop is fabulous! You have to go see it if you haven’t already. Tara loves being a shop owner, because through quilting, she meets wonderful people that become dear friends. She is proud and excited that she is celebrating her 5^th anniversary of being open.

Quilting is “therapy” for many of us and shop owners are no exception. Tara finds quilting an excellent way to work out problems and relieve stress, while creating something beautiful and artistically fulfilling. Tara’s favorite technique is hand appliqué, but she doesn’t get as much time as she would like to do hand work. She also loves to hand quilt, but again does not have enough time in her schedule to do it. (Two teenagers, full time job…geez, Tara! Why not?)

Some of her favorite quilts are appliqué quilts and she is very fond of the basket block. Tara is a strong believer in “if it doesn’t make me happy I don’t want to do it,” so she stays away from anything too difficult, and doesn’t let the need to achieve ‘perfection’ get in the way of creation and fun. “Perfection is overrated!” she says, and I agree!

Tara tends to keep most of the quilts she makes, but does give some away to the “cherished” people in her life. This is a picture of a quilt Tara made recently to be donated for a dear friend’s benefit to help pay for expensive medical treatments. (Get well Jackie! Hang in there, we love you!)

The best rewards come from Tara’s children when they compliment her quilts – “hey, that is a cool quilt” or “that one is really beautiful, Mom.” Please visit Heartland, (She’s participating in Shoptoberfest!) and see in person what a wonderful shop it is! www.heartlandquiltshoponline.com

As Quilter of the Month, the entire quilting community and everyone who comes into the store and will have an opportunity to view your talents and see the vast array of different styles, colors, and techniques there are in our area. While your quilts are on display, photos are taken and a CD created to maintain a record of your exhibition. Also during the month of your exhibition, you will receive a 20% discount in the store. Any quilter at any level can participate. We love seeing other people’s work styles, and don’t worry if they are not quilted! In fact, “tops” are easier for us to hang up!! Call the store at 632-8801 or go to www.sewwhatquiltshop.com to sign up for a future month.

Quilter’s Tip

Don’t you hate it when you start a new project and your machine starts to give you trouble? When was the last time you cleaned the dust behind the bobbin case? Here’s a tip; each time you change a bobbin, use the cleaning brush to wipe out the dust that accumulates. If you can’t reach all of it, use compressed air (make sure you blow OUT of the machine, not IN), or a artist’s paintbrush to gather the debris. Drop a tiny bit of machine oil on a Q-Tip, and clean the bits of lint out.  The oil helps draw the lint to the cotton and you would be surprised at how much better your machine will work! Also, don’t forget you need to change your needle WAY more than you think you should have to.  Start each project with a new needle.  Remember that not all the needles are made the same, and sometimes there is a ‘bad’ one in the pack; you may even need to change the needle in the middle of a project too, especially if it’s paper piecing. Happy Quilting!

Girl’s Night Out

October 26, 2012 is Girl’s Night Out! We start around 5pm or 6pm (however, it works into your schedule, its casual) and go until around 9pm. The cost is $8. Don’t forget to bring your UFO’s, orphans, and any other quilting projects you are working on and we’ll have a great night out! All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you on October 26, 2012.

Individual and Group Lessons Available

Need guidance with a quilting project?

Stuck in a rut and can’t move forward?

Call or stop by to make an appointment!

It costs $15.00/ hour for one or two quilters; $10.00/ hour for three or more quilters.

Thursday Morning Free Sew!

Did you know we offer a free sew every Thursday morning?

Bring in your projects and hang out with us for a bit!

Free advice, sewing tips, and great companionship!

10-2pm every Thursday

Sew What? News and Notions

Sew What? is very excited to announce our participation in the 2012 New York State Row by Row Shop Hop. Last year twenty shops took part in this event and it was such a huge success, Janet Lutz from Calico Gals in Syracuse decided to host it again. This year there are 62 spectacular shops involved in it all across New York State. Photos and information can be seen on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/NYSRowbyRow.  The hop goes through the end of August, so you have plenty of time!

Shelly Kamp was the first quilter to drop off her finished 2012 Row by Row Shop Hop at Calico Gals in Syracuse. Her prize was a big fat stack of 25 fat quarters! Didn’t she do a great job? Every shop is giving out a stack of 25 Fat Quarters, so you still have lots of opportunities to win!

Are you getting ready for the 6th Annual Quilter’s Quest Shop Hop? This is one of the most popular Shop Hops, because all the shops are located so close to each other that it is EASY to do in one day! This event starts on Thursday September 6, 2012 and runs through Saturday September 8, 2012. Thursday’s hours will be 9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Grand Prize is a fabulous weekend quilting retreat for four at The Brick House that values at $900.00! Eight lucky participants will win 3 yards of fabric, and other additional prizes (and who doesn’t love prizes) include a $50.00 gift certificate from each shop.

The eight shops this year are:

Aunties Attic * 2043 Military Rd. Niagara Falls, NY 14304 * 716-297-3636 * www.auntiesatticquiltshop.com

Heartland Quilt Shop * 6817 Ridge Rd. Lockport, NY 14094 * 716-433-3188 * www.heartlandquiltshoponline.com

Marie’s Sewing Center * 6310 Robinson Rd. Lockport, NY 14094 * 716-434-2583 * www.mariessewingcenter.com

Pine Grove Quilt Shop * 2962 Delaware Ave. Kenmore, NY 14217 716-873-0774 * www.pinegrovequiltshop.net

Quiltmaker and Friends * 4716 Military Rd. Niagara Falls, NY 14305 * 716-297-4067 *

Sew What? Quilt Shop * 6816 Main St. Williamsville, NY 14221 * 716-632-8801 * www.sewwhatquiltshop.com

Threads of Time * 3125 Sheridan Dr. Amherst, NY 14226 * 716-837-1372 * www.totsewing.com

Brick House Quilting * 8206 Tonawanda Creek Rd. 14094 * 716-870-4895 * www.brickhousequilting.com

Summer Quilting Classes

Summer Classes are in full swing, have you signed up for your class yet? Here is a sampling of what we have to offer this semester:

Magic Melons, an all time favorite here at Sew What? is being offered again by Joanne Witjes on Monday August 20, 2012 from 10:00a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Cost is $35.00

Paper Pieced Log Cabin taught by Ann Shaw. Two choices for classes on Tuesday  8/28/12 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Cost is $35.00

Upcoming Events

Do you have an event you would like us to share with our newsletter subscribers? We would love to help you promote your event, just let us know!

FibreArts Initiative III

April 4 – August 28, 2012
Impact Artists Gallery
2495 Main St Tri-Main Bldg Suite 545
Buffalo, NY 14212

For more information on these events, you can go to FibreArts Initiative on Facebook, www.impactartists.wordpress.com or email prcontact.iompactartistgallery@gmail.com.

The Morningstar Quilt Guild Show

Friday and Saturday, October 5 & 6, 2012
Hours to be announced
St. Matthias Church
East Aurora, NY 14052

Presented by River Lea Quilters’ Guild

Quilts by the River 2012 Quilt Show

Saturday and Sunday October 13 & 14, 2012  *    Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn in Grand Island
100 Whitehaven Rd
Grand Island, NY 14072
Admission $5.00

Proceeds from the show will be donated to Mended Hearts and The Matthew Foster Foundation

For more information, contact Susan Miles at 716-773-4304

The Irondequoit Quilt Club presents

Gems of Fall

Friday October 19, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday October 20, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection
3736 St. Paul Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14617 (corner of Cooper Rd, off Titus)
Donation will be $5.00
http:/irondequoitquiltclub.org

The Museum Quilt Guild of Batavia presents

Stitches in Time Quilt Show 2012

Friday October 19, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday October 20, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The new location is:

Alexander Fireman’s Recreation Hall
10708 Alexander Rd (Rte. 98)
Alexander, NY 14005

For more information, contact Mary Lu at 585-343-9084

http://museumquiltguild.blogspot.com

Crittenden Quilters Presents

Hand Made in America Quilt Show and Chinese Auction

Friday and Saturday October 26 & 27, 2012   *    Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Crittenden Presbyterian Church
3320 Crittenden Road
Crittenden, NY 14038
Admission $4.00

For more information, contact Judy Geyer 716-542-1861

Quilter of the Month

Augusts’ Quilter of the Month is Jackie Cholewinski.   Jackie “dabbled” in quilting for some time, but really got serious about it in 1994 when she retired as an x-ray technician from Mercy Hospital. She learned many quilting techniques from various workshops, but for the most part is self-taught. She loves interacting with other quilter’s because “you never know what hint someone might share.”

Her favorite technique is hand appliqué, which she learned from Canadian, Rosemary Makhan. In fact, Jackie based one of her favorite quilts on the pattern “Strawberry Thieves”, designed by Rosemary, which she made for her daughter’s 40^th birthday. “Strawberry Thieves” has won a number of awards; Best of Show and 1^st place for mixed techniques at a Southtowns Piecemaker Quilt Guild show; Viewer’s Choice, 2 judges’ awards and best hand appliqué in the Morningstar Quilt Guild show and at the Venice Area Quilt Guild in Florida, it won Best Embroidery and 2^nd place in the accomplished quilter class. “Floral Abundance” is another appliqué quilt she made using Ms. Makhan’s freezer paper technique.   Jackie also loves paper-piecing because it is so exact. She loves to hand sew, but sends her quilts out to be quilted.  You can see more of Rosemary’s quilts and designs at  http://www.quiltsbyrosemary.com

Jackie belongs to the Southtowns Piecemaker and Morningstar Quilt Guilds along with the Venice Area Quilt Guild in Venice, Florida. She has won acknowledgements in various quilt shows in New York and Florida, including several Best in Show’s.   Most recently, she won 1^st place in the Southtown’s Piecmakers Civil War Tribute Challenge.

As Quilter of the Month, the entire quilting community and everyone who comes into the store and will have an opportunity to view your talents and see the vast array of different styles, colors, and techniques there are in our area. While your quilts are on display, photos are taken and a CD created to maintain a record of your exhibition. Also during the month of your exhibition, you will receive a 20% discount in the store. Any quilter at any level can participate. We love seeing other people’s work styles, and don’t worry if they are not quilted! In fact, “tops” are easier for us to hang up!! Call the store at 632-8801 or go to www.sewwhatquiltshop.com to sign up for a future month.

Quilter’s Tip

How about this for a clever tip? If you tend to misplace tools while marking a quilt or working on a craft project, wear a carpenter’s apron! With all the different pockets in it, you won’t misplace your rotary cutter, scissors, marking tools or templates – to name a few!

Girl’s Night Out

August 31, 2012 is Girl’s Night Out! We start around 5pm or 6pm (however, it works into your schedule, its casual) and go until around 9pm. The cost is $8. Don’t forget to bring your UFO’s, orphans, and any other quilting projects you are working on and we’ll have a great night out! All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you on August 31, 2012.

Individual and Group Lessons Available

Need guidance with a quilting project?

Stuck in a rut and can’t move forward?

Call or stop by to make an appointment!

It costs $15.00/ hour for one or two quilters; $10.00/ hour for three or more quilters.

Thursday Morning Free Sew!

Did you know we offer a free sew every Thursday morning?

Bring in your projects and hang out with us for a bit!

Free advice, sewing tips, and great companionship!

10-2pm every Thursday

Sew What? News and Notions

NYS Quilting

Sew What? is very excited to announce our participation in the 2012 New York State Row by Row Shop Hop. Last year twenty shops took part in this event and it was such a huge success, Janet Lutz from Calico Gals in Syracuse decided to host it again. This year there are 62 spectacular shops involved in it all across New York State. Photos and information can be seen on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/NYSRowbyRow.

Here is how it works:

The premise of this shop hop is to encourage anyone traveling across New York State during July and August to stop into different quilt shops. The theme this year is “I love stitching in New York.” During your statewide tour, you will collect many rows that reflect the beauty and history of New York State. Each shop will design a pattern for one row that can be used to create a row quilt. Some shops will have ideas for other things to do with the rows. Sew What’s model maker and quilter extraordinaire, Christine Kryjeski, has designed a wonderful, fun pattern for our row, called Fun, Sun, and Quilts which has been posted on the Row by Row Facebook page – see link above. The challenge for you, our loyal customers, is to make a quilt using at least eight different rows from any of the participating 62 shops. The first person to bring a quilted, bound, and labeled quilt to any participating shop will receive 25 fat quarters from that shop. When you finish your quilt, bring it to your favorite quilt shop to see if you are their first finisher, and therefore their winner. If that quilt shop already has a winner, you can try any of the other 61 shops who might not have a winner yet. Good luck! You have until December 31, 2012 to complete your quilt.

Be creative, have fun and happy quilting!

and the Winners Are…

The 9^th Annual Western Shop Hop was another success thanks to you, our faithful customers. There were 249 completers for the four day event and it was great to people we haven’t seen in a while. The Baby Lock Sofia sewing machine grand prizewinner was Gloria Christie from Newfane, N.Y.  We hope to see your completed table runners from the fabric you collected during the shop hop!

The Basket Prize winners were:

• Chris Vollmar – Victor, NY – Marie’s
• David Quarterly – Churchville, NY – Ivy Thimble
• Deb Kelly – Varysburgh, NY  – Sew What Quilt Shop?
• Heidi Tasker – Cheektowaga, NY – Carriage House
• Jessie Weaver – Lancaster, NY – Aurora Sewing Center – East Aurora
• Joan Suttori – Orchard Park, NY – Aurora Sewing Center -Williamsville
• Judy Webster – Kendall, NY – Chestnut Grove
• Pam Overfield – Akron, NY – Mt. Pleasant
• Phyllis Hall – Grand Island, NY -  Country Treasures
• Tammy Baker – East Aurora, NY – Heartland
• Tracy Sawyer – Kendall, NY – Pine Grove

The gift certificate winners from each store were:

• Customer X – Sew What?
• Darcy Gouldman – Geneseo, NY  – Marie’s
• Grace Krajewski – Depew, NY – Heartland
• Janet Smith – North Tonawanda, NY – Pine Grove
• Karen Prohowski – Hamburg, NY – Chestnut Grove
• Licia Warren – Clarence, NY  – Carriage House
• Meg Kinnaley – Rushford, NY – Aurora Sewing Center East Aurora
• Pamela Shannon- Arcade, NY – Ivy Thimble
• Sara Ann Adams – Pittsford, NY – Aurora Sewing Center – Williamsville
• Shawn Marie Hendrickson – Holley, NY – Mt. Pleasant
• Tessa Fox – Rochester, NY – Country Treasures

Summer Classes

Basic Machine Piecing
Teacher:  Ann Shaw 
When:  Tuesday’s,  July 9^th – August 14^nd
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Cost:  $60.00

Comfort Garden
Teacher: Christine Kryjeski
When: Monday, July 9th
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Cost: $35.00

Back Basting  Applique
Teacher:  Ann Shaw
When:  Friday, July 13^st
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Cost:  $45.00

Triangle magic
Teacher:  Christine Kryjeski
When: Wednesday, July 18^th & 25^th
Time^:  6:00 PM– 9:00 PM
Cost:  $35.00

New Notions for Summer

We have fun, new summer party quilt-ware for you to use at your next event – indoors or out!

Upcoming Events

Do you have an event you would like us to share with our newsletter subscribers? We would love to help you promote your event, just let us know!

FibreArts Initiative III

April 4 – August 28, 2012

Impact Artists Gallery

2495 Main St Tri-Main Bldg Suite 545

Buffalo, NY 14212

For more information on these events, you can go to FibreArts Initiative on Facebook, www.impactartists.wordpress.com or email prcontact.iompactartistgallery@gmail.com.

The Morningstar Quilt Guild Show

Friday and Saturday, October 5 & 6, 2012

Hours to be announced

St. Matthias Church

East Aurora, NY 14052

The Thread Connection Quilt Show

Thumbstall Quilt Guild

July 13-15, 2010

49 East Elizabeth Street Skaneateles, N.Y.

Skaneateles High School

Quilter of the Month

We will be having a sampling from the Friday Night Girls group for the month of July! About 15 members of this group will be showing a few quilts each this month, each with different levels of experience. One member pieces EVERYTHING by HAND! The group meets on the last Friday of each month at the shop for fun and sewing and has been going strong for about 11 years. Why not think about joining them for a fun Friday night out – come join the fun!

As Quilter of the Month, the entire quilting community and everyone who comes into the store and will have an opportunity to view your talents and see the vast array of different styles, colors, and techniques there are in our area. While your quilts are on display, photos are taken and a CD created to maintain a record of your exhibition. Also during the month of your exhibition, you will receive a 20% discount in the store. Any quilter at any level can participate. We love seeing other people’s work styles, and don’t worry if they are not quilted! In fact, “tops” are easier for us to hang up!! Call the store at 632-8801 or go to www.sewwhatquiltshop.com to sign up for a future month.

Quilter’s Tip

Local quilter Pat O’Kane from Niagara Falls, NY has a great sewing room tip for us! Stick a half piece of stick-on Velco on your sewing machine and the other half on your seam ripper. Now your seam ripper will always be right where you need it!

Girl’s Night Out

July 27, 2012 is Girl’s Night Out! We start around 5pm or 6pm (however, it works into your schedule, its casual) and go until around 9pm. The cost is $8. Don’t forget to bring your UFO’s, orphans, and any other quilting projects you are working on and we’ll have a great night out! All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you on July 27, 2012.

Individual and Group Lessons Available

Need guidance with a quilting project?

Stuck in a rut and can’t move forward?

Call or stop by to make an appointment!

It costs $15.00/ hour for one or two quilters; $10.00/ hour for three or more quilters.

Thursday Morning Free Sew!

Did you know we offer a free sew every Thursday morning?

Bring in your projects and hang out with us for a bit!

Free advice, sewing tips, and great companionship!

10-2pm every Thursday

Sew What? News and Notions

Are your feet are ready to start hopping? Because in six days the 9^th Annual Western New York Shop Hop begins. We start hopping on Wednesday June 6, 2012 and go through Saturday June 9, 2012. The Shop Hop hours are 9:00 a.m. – 7: p.m. Wednesday – Friday; Saturday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. There are 11 fabulous quilt shops participating; we are pleased that Pine Grove Quilt Shop is joining us this year. Once again, we are offering wonderful prizes. The Grand Prize is the Baby Lock Sofia sewing machine, which values at $999! You’ll have 11 chances to win a gift basket (worth $100) and 11 chances to win a gift certificate (one from each store). What is really special this year is in addition to all the prizes available, when you finish the hop, you will have collected 33 free strips of fabric and 11 different patterns – a total of over 2 ¼ yards of free fabric. You can use this free fabric to make quilts for charity, or even use them to make gifts or projects for yourself! Shops who are participating this year include:

• Aurora Sewing Center 659 Main St. East Aurora, NY 14052 * (716)652-2811 www.aurorasewingcenter.com
• Aurora Sewing Center 8575 Main St. Clarence, NY 14221 * (716)204-8350    www.aurorasewingcenter.com
• The Carriage Quilt Shoppe 593 Main St. East Aurora, NY 14052 * (716)655-4561 www.carriagequiltshoppe.com

Open until 8 p.m. Wednesdays

• Chestnut Bay Quilting  262 North St. Caledonia, NY 14423 * (585)538-4420 www.chestnutbayquilting.com
• Country Treasures 61 Main St. Brockport, NY 14420 * (585)637-5148 www.countrytreasuresquiltshop.com
• Heartland Quilt Shop 6817 Ridge Rd. Lockport, NY 14094 * (716)433-3188 www.heartlandquiltshop.com
• Ivy Thimble Quilt Shop 5 Railroad St. Victor, NY 14564 * (585)742-2680 www.ivythimble.com
• Marie’s Sewing Center 6310 Robinson Rd. Lockport 14094 * (716)-434-2583 www.mariessewingcenter.com

Open Thursday until 8 p.m.

• Mt. Pleasant Quilting Company 2877 Mt. Pleasant Rd. York, NY 14592 * (585)-243-0767 www.mtpleasantquiltingcompany.com Open Wednesdays until 8 p.m If using your GPS for Mt. Pleasant Quilting Company, use “Town of Piffard.”
• Pine Grove Quilt Shop 2962 Delaware Ave. Kenmore, NY 14217 * (716)-873-0774 www.pinegrovequiltshop.net
• Sew What? 6816 Main St. Amherst, NY 14221 * (716)-632-8801 www.sewwhatquiltshop.com

New Fabrics

Come into the shop and check out our new arrivals that are coming in daily!

Upcoming Events

Do you have an event you would like us to share with our newsletter subscribers? We would love to help you promote your event, just let us know!

FibreArts Initiative III

Wednesday, April 4 – Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Impact Artists Gallery

2495 Main St Tri-Main Bldg Suite 545

Buffalo, NY 14212

For more information on these events, you can go to FibreArts Initiative on Facebook, www.impactartists.wordpress.com or email prcontact.iompactartistgallery@gmail.com

The Westfield Quilters’ Guild Quilt Show

Friday & Saturday, June 1-3, 2012

Friday & Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm; Sunday 12-4pm

21 Brix Winery

6654 West Main Road (Rt.20) Between Westfield and Brocton

Portland, NY 14769

$4.00 Admission

The Morningstar Quilt Guild Show

“Harvest of Quilts 7”

Friday, October 5, 2012 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 6, 2012 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

St. Matthias Church  374 Main Street, East Aurora, N.Y. 14052

Quilts of  Valor

“Quilts of Valor” is a 73-minute documentary starring national quilters Eleanor Burns, Alex Anderson, and Mark Lipinski and hosted by Marianne Fons, that has just been made available to all public television stations nationwide by its producer, Iowa Public Television. To make sure this unique and compelling program is aired on your local station, contact your station’ programming department and ask it to schedule the show.

For help finding your local station, go to: http://www.pbs.org. Contact your station via email, phone message, or personal note to let them know you want to watch “Quilts of Valor.”

Quilter of the Month

Jean Butzer is our Quilter of the Month for June. Jean’s interest in quilting began in the mid-1970’s at the time of the Nation’s bicentennial although she began sewing as a 10 year-old 4-H member. Her education includes a BS from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a MA degree in Textiles and Clothing from Michigan State University.

Serving as a Cooperative Extension 4-H Agent in Genesee County for 15 years left her little time to sew or quilt. Then for 10 years, Jean owned and operated Fabrics ‘N Things in Batavia, a fabric shop specializing in quilting. She has taught literally hundreds of people to quilt between classes, workshops, and programs at both the shop and local guilds. She is an active member of both the Clarence Log Cabin Quilters and Batavia’s Museum Quilt Guild.

Her favorite quilting projects are the ones combining piecing and appliqué, and those providing the opportunity to learn and practice new techniques. She also enjoys scaling down projects to make miniatures and small versions of quilts and wall hangings. She notes scrappy quilts lend themselves to using her extensive collection of fabrics and allow her to play with color and textures. She has won numerous awards at local shows for her quilting.

A customer once told her – quilting is addicting, but if you are going to have an addiction, it’s a good one!

Quilter’s Tip

You know how frustrating it is when you are hand quilting and the tools you need are never right where you need them. The next time you hand quilt if you are using a hoop, try this: when you load the quilt into the hoop, load it upside down! Place the larger hoop against the lining and the smaller hoop against the top. This will create a tine ledge so your needles, beeswax and stork scissors won’t fall off!

Girl’s Night Out

June 29, 2012 is Girl’s Night Out! We start around 5pm or 6pm (however, it works into your schedule, its casual) and go until around 9pm. The cost is $8. Don’t forget to bring your UFO’s, orphans, and any other quilting projects you are working on and we’ll have a great night out! All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you on June 29, 2012.

Individual and Group Lessons Available

Need guidance with a quilting project?

Stuck in a rut and can’t move forward?

Call or stop by to make an appointment!

It costs $15.00/ hour for one or two quilters; $10.00/ hour for three or more quilters.

Thursday Morning Free Sew!

Did you know we offer a free sew every Thursday morning?

Bring in your projects and hang out with us for a bit!

Free advice, sewing tips, and great companionship!

10-2pm every Thursday